The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-04-14
For sl.e CITY ESsitor.
{ (I7lifortal iron, Grteactile Ntsss..,

| investigate the origin and history of
the titles SO freely bestowed by our
brethren of the country press which
1 we cannot resist.
In the last issue of the Pickens
SENTINEL, we find it recorded that
Maj. Ferguson" the owner of
Glassy mouGtain, in Pickens county,
i Is having certain improvements made
on his place. This obviously refers
to the gentleman who is known here
as John Ferguson of FCr2us on &
Miller, and what we wish infornlt-
tion of is how he became major in
Plckens county. We happen to know
that he is one of the few surviving
privates Of the Confederate army, in
which organization he sustained the
burden of amuskot until he was com
PEELED by circumstances beyond his
control and the orders of his superi
or officers to place it on stack and
retire with the other of his brigade.
Since the closing of hostilities he has
declined to hold any Office, and his
connection with the militia has been
confined to the voluntary assumption
by his firm of the responsibility for
new uniforms for the two Grcenville
companies and resulting honorary
membership.
He has been interviewed on the
subject by an omissary OF the Green
vile News and declares his entire ig-
norancc of how he became n major.
Therefore we apply to the SENTINEL.
for information and for enlightment
on the process of promotion by which
a man in time of peace and giving his
entire attention to large and varied
business interests rises to the inter
mediate grade of major; also what
further achievement and measure Of
success will be required to secure the
titles Of lieutenant colonel, colonel
and brigadicr general"
The above from the Grcenvilla
News is quite as interesting and in
structive as an article which recently
appeared in that sprightly paper, on
title "AIister." This brother "of the
country press" will frankly admit that
he Is unable to point to the authority
OF statute, or the mandate of q mill !
tnry commission for the variety of ii. |
ties used III our conversations and !
writings, SO we shall not expect to find !
our account Of the origin Of the title !
III question, Incorporated in the Ii
tltdlar Encyclopaedia, the first volume
of which the News will soon hpvc
ready for the press.
Since noting the fact that "AIai.
Ferguson" was making improvements
on top of CLASSY mountain, we have
learned that he is making a graded .
road by which the ascent can be casi-
" and safely made; SO we will be GLAD
to have Col. John Ferguson line with
MS the next time he il in Pickens.
COL Hollingsworth has made consid.
cradle improvements on Boggs noun
tnin, though he WAS "Colonnr be-
fore, yet if brother A. B. Williams of
the News, will como over in Pickans
and thns improve Six Mile mountain,
instead of being known by many in
Grccnvile as alias Bill, he shall be
known i'll this county as Colonel Adol-
phus Benjamin Williams.
An equally Legitimate manner Of
acquiring these coveted military fl
ties III time Of peace, can be learned
by application to the titular military
mint at Columbia, where all denomi-
tOns have been struck and hun ON
the neck OF many citizens who were
not strong enough to shoulder
muskct III the late war.
The Statutes prescribe no pcnaltv
adequate to the atrocity of the crime
committed by the five Ynr1; C,unt,.